In their previous band
Big Harp, the duo of Christopher Senseney and Stefanie Drootin-Senseney explored Americana, alt-country, rockabilly, gospel, and, on their 2015 album Waveless, which was a much less rootsy experience, even some Germanic prog. In their incarnation as
Umm, they strip away most of the extra instrumentation and any pretense at folksiness and dive deep into fuzzy, psychedelic indie rock with a side of New Zealand jangle, laid-back slacker charm, and grunge pop drive. On their debut album
Double Worshipper, the sound they get is crisp and pure without a lot of junk getting in the way of the hooky songs and blown-out guitar. The duo sing most of the songs in unison, with Christopher's sometime gruff grumble blending with Stefanie's honeyed tones like a well-made cocktail. The midtempo songs like "Black Summer" have a pleasing lope, with the players and singers cruising through like the windows are down and neither of them have a care in the world. The words sometimes contrast with the musical mood, but that only serves to make the songs more interesting in a sunbaked
JAMC kind of way. The tracks that have a little more kick, like the straining-at-its-leash rocker "I'm in Love" or the rumbling psych jam "Total Collapse of the Sun," give the record a boost of taut energy. The lone ballad, "Some Jungle," is a dreamy slice of indie pop with the kind of flowing chorus that's totally irresistible to anyone who loves a sneaky good one. In fact, the whole record is kind of sneaky that way. It's not flashy or weird and the band are too well-traveled to be anything but seasoned pros by now, but that's why it works as well as it does. Christopher and Stefanie know how to write songs that stick, understand dynamics and structure, and have total control over their sound. That kind of assurance and quiet confidence make
Umm very likeable, and
Double Worshipper a very solid debut. ~ Tim Sendra